Yuma firefighters remember 9/11

The Yuma Fire Department participated in several remembrance events to honor the lives lost during the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City 17 years ago.

YFD said Tuesday starting at 5 a.m., a total of ten YFD firefighters held the first of what they hope will become an annual stair climb event. Each participant climbed a three-story burn tower 37 times for the equivalent of the 110 flights of stairs of the World Trade Center Twin Towers.

This was done to honor the 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers who lost their lives on 9/11 while answering the calls for help and climbing flight after flight to the aid of victims of the terrorist attack. This inaugural event was held at the Public Safety Training Facility, located at 3575 South Avenue 4E.

YFD said another similar tribute began at 9 a.m. when four YFD firefighters ran from Fire Station 3, located at 508 E. 25 th St., to the 9/11 Memorial at Fire Station #1, located at 353 S. 3 rd Ave. Also in honor of those who lost their lives that day.

It took them over an hour and they ran in full firefighting gear. Fire Station 3 is the site of this year’s 9/11 flag display and has a flag placed for each firefighter and law enforcement officer who died that day.

It has been 17 years since the attacks occurred. YFD said this date will always be a reminder of the innocent victims killed and the heroes lost doing their best to save others. Firefighters also said they cannot allow the memory of those ultimate sacrifices to be forgotten.

A brief memorial service is set for Tuesday evening.